Foreclosure led a popular Chandler wedding venue to announce that it will close after this weekend, leaving in limbo about 60 weddings on which deposits will not be refunded.

Inspirador, 63 E. Boston St., was foreclosed on by BBVA Compass, which took ownership of the building Wednesday, former Inspirador owner Dilia Wood said.

The venue, which also hosts graduations and other special events, will honor the three weddings booked this weekend but will close afterward and not return any deposits, Wood said. Deposits won’t be returned per the contract with clients and because the bank is entitled to seize all Inspirador assets as a result of the foreclosure, Wood said.

There are at least 60 weddings booked at Inspirador, which has about 15 employees, she said.

“This is heartbreaking for everybody,” Wood said.

Inspirador is working with other wedding-planning companies to find alternatives for clients who have booked a date, she said.

“We know we can’t make it perfect, but we’re taking the steps to try to make the transition better,” Wood said.

For Elaine Landuyt of Ahwatukee Foothills and her daughter, who had put down $8,000 to reserve Inspirador for her February 2014 wedding, “It’s just a dream shattered.”

“We get some information from Inspirador and some from the bank,” Landuyt said. “We don’t know what’s going on.”

“I’m just kind of in shock,” said Gabby Luciani, 22, of Peoria, who had put down more than $4,000 for her July wedding.

She said she felt worse for people who did not have the same amount of time to find an alternative.

“It’s just sad,” she said. “I hope that someone gets to the bottom of this.”

Compass did not ask Inspirador to cease operations and would like to see it continue to operate, bank spokeswoman Lori Moore said in an e-mailed statement.

“Although we would like to respond further to the inaccurate information you have received, we are unable to do so at this time,” Moore said, citing pending litigation.

Inspirador has been involved in a legal battle involving the bank and the U.S. Small Business Administration loan it received to open in 2006.

In an e-mail to clients announcing the closure, Wood said that Inspirador “has been wrongfully foreclosed on” and has made mortgage payments on time.

While the change in ownership would not prevent Inspirador from continuing to stage weddings, it would allow the bank to take possession of the building and lock out clients and employees at any time, said Kevin Howard, a business consultant who had worked on Inspirador’s original loan when employed by Southwestern Business Financing Corp.

Inspirador wants a written agreement from Compass to be able to continue to operate, Wood said.

Zulu Club, located at the Scottsdale Airpark, is working with Inspirador and will try to honor all the contracts and deposits of Inspirador clients, co-owner Dee Dee Maza said Tuesday morning.

The venue is finishing a remodel and had planned to open May 21 so all the dates Inspirador clients have booked will be available, Maza said.

"We're in a financial situation where we can help," Maza said. "We just feel so sorry for them."

Zulu Club is planning to hold an open house next Wednesday for any interested Inspirador clients, she said.

Inspirador had initially suggested the nearby Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort as an alternative but was unable to work it out with its corporate ownership, Inspirador spokesman Phillip Bergman said.

Other venues are not working directly with Inspirador, but offered help and discounts to Inspirador clients Tuesday morning.

"I've already gotten three calls this morning," said April Kuuebler, wedding coordinator at DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Gilbert, which offered on Facebook "significant discounts" and a willingness to work with plans already made.

Rendezvous Catering and Events in Phoenix also offered its service.

"Each bride's situation is totally different from the next so everything would be taken on a case by case basis," Owner Ron Pacioni said. "If we can help take a little bit of stress away from those brides we would be happy to do that."

Inspirador has created a customer-care e-mail and phone number for clients: 480-980-9328 and InspiradorCustomerCare@gmail.com.

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